A complete guide to building a world-class network when moving to a new city

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I finally did it.

A one-way ticket to Buenos Aires, Argentina.

I had no idea how long I’d be living there for, no clue how I’d survive, and who I’d meet along the journey.

I didn’t know how to speak Spanish, and I didn’t know a single soul living in South America — period. It was terrifying.

I took the leap!

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably thought about a career change that may involve living in a different city or even a different country around the world. Don’t worry you’re not alone in this. According to Wall Street Journal, the average American in the 21st century will have changed their jobs 14 times in their lifetime!

While my move to South America was not directly career-related, the struggles of building my network professionally and personally was the same. During my time in Latin America, I managed to move every three months to a new country, and learned the ins and outs of what it takes to build a professional network in a new city — despite speaking a different language!

Today, we’re going to share how you can build your network after moving to a new city. The strategies we’ll share will also benefit you if you’re looking to expand your network in your current city as well. Hope this helps you.

*Note: The advice I’m sharing is assuming you have little to no connections in the city you’re moving to, no personal brand or audience you can leverage, and no previous experience living in the city.

Start with who you already know

The power of our own network is quite amazing. Just about anyone we aspire to get in touch with is likely two to three connections away. The natural instinct we have is to focus on solely expanding our network, before seeking to nurture the one we already have. A warm introduction is one of the fastest ways to build trust and respect with a stranger.

For example, before I visited New York, I made sure to use both of these tools (I usually start with Facebook search) to see who I could connect with and who in my network already knew them.

Facebook search

Linkedin’s Advanced People Search

Takeaway: Always start with your own network first, and continue to provide nurture the network you already have. Having 10 people who truly care about you is infinitely more powerful than having 100 people that just know about you.

Do what you already love

Moving to a new city can feel exhilarating. You have the opportunity to start fresh with a blank slate,…